I dropped the ball today. It was kind of like that movie scene where you see what’s coming before it happened. I saw it and then it happened. One minute Carter and I were lounging together comfortably. The next he was rolling.
It’s my doggie understanding that rolling behavior from a seven-week-old baby is normally something to be celebrated. Its something of a developmental marker the doctors tell new parents to monitor. Except when it happens like this.
We were on the ottoman together. And then we weren’t. I saw it and then I heard it. The pain cry, as mom has come to call it. Usually it happens when he accidentally scratches his face or something. This was different. Mom was coming back from the bathroom when it happened.
And in that moment I think we both felt like failures. Me, because I couldn’t stop the inevitable from happening. Mom, because she took her eyes off the situation in time of need. So she swooped him up and I was at the ready to do whatever I needed to do to help. I stayed underfoot (a place I can’t say I was entirely welcome in this situation) as mom paced and swayed with him and called the doctor.
My mind raced hopelessly with all of the most terrible of outcomes. My heart skipped a beat when he stopped crying a few minutes later. In a complete emotional frenzy, I kissed him all over just as soon as it was physically possible to do so. And then came a very powerful message from the doctor’s office. 
It’s the first time, but it won’t be the last that he does something we’re not expecting. And it’s going to be okay. He’s going to be okay. I heard the nurse say it, and I heard mom repeat it (a few times) before I released the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. It’s going to be okay. Even though I dropped the ball, he is going to be okay.
It’s a powerful message to be sure, yet I think we all need to hear it from time to time. Sometimes we don’t even know how badly we need to hear it until we hear the words out loud. Until we release the breath we didn’t realize we’d been holding. But that’s only the first part of the puzzle.
The second is in believing it. These things happen sometimes. It’s like those movie scenes when you see what’s coming before it happens. And then it does. In this case the scene that follows is looking good – there don’t seem to be any warning signs that the fall had any negative impact whatsoever. So for now we have no choice. When all else fails we need to believe everything’s going to be all right.
Wiley's Wisdom 
Oh Wiley, you didn’t drop the ball. Doggy paws aren’t built to catch babies who roll off the ottoman. Carter is going to have lots of scrapes, bumps and lumps as he grows. He’ll start to pull himself along the floor and he’ll bump into walls, table legs, door frames – basically, anything in his way. When he’s walking, Carter will bounce off walls, fall down stairs, trip over his own feet, his Mom’s feet, his Dad’s feet and probably you as well. Don’t feel bad Wiles – your Mom shouldn’t feel bad either. Believe me, babies are tough – tougher than we think. I remember when holding my daughter one day when she was about three months old. She threw her head back and then fell forward and our foreheads collided. She cried for a little bit, but it made me see stars and I had a lump on the side of my head. I love the idea of you kissing him all over. Kisses always make the boo-boo feel better.
My dear Lyn,
I fear you are right about all of these things…all of the scary awful horrible things to come that I can’t protect my beloved little person from. Thank goodness for this thing you and others have said here today about babies being tougher than they look! All I know is little Carter sure looks fragile…thank heavens he is stronger than he looks. I will brace myself for everything you said could happen…maybe if I’m ready it won’t be so bad. And if it is, there’s always the kisses. 😉
Lots of love,
Wiles
Good to hear Carter is okay but I know how scary it was. One thing I learned the hard way when my kids were little is that they always do something before you think they can. They will rollover or climb (and fall) out of the crib before you even think it’s possible. Fortunately, they are also very resilient. (((Hugs)))
That is a really good lesson – that little ones will always do things before you expect them to. How else would they ensure they keep their parents on their toes? 🙂
Thanks for the hugs – we needed them around here after that incident!
Lots of love,
Wiles
Oh no. I’m glad everyone is okay. You couldn’t stop him, he’s a little person and they are little roly ploys sometimes. I just adore the first picture of you two. He looks so serious. Tell him its okay.
I know!!!! He usually looks so serious…always with the furrowed brow! It’s funny we should say so though – today he smiled more while he was awake! Usually it just happens when he’s happily away somewhere in dreamland, but today he was wide awake. It was a beautiful sight to be sure!
Lots of love to you,
Wiles
I can imagine how scared everyone was, my heart stopped reading this. Glad everything will be ok. Babies are very resilient and so flexible and spongy…. sounds funny but I think you know what I mean. Kissing him all over was the best thing to do, you couln’t have hold him Wiles. There will be more bumps and bruises to come and it is part of growing up unfortunatley. The great thing is, babies, toddlers they just go , fall, go , fall go again and never give up as some adults would.
Much love, big hug for you and Carter, and mum!
That’s just it – he looks like such a little monkey sometimes, climbing and squirming, and then he can be such a little moldable noodle. It’s so strange to me that he can be so resilient since he seems so fragile most of the time. I love what you said about their patience too – not giving up. There’s definitely something to be learned from this!
Lots of love (and hugs back!) to you!
Wiles
Well, yay for Carter learning to roll. Too bad he had to learn it on the ottoman and scare the heck out of everybody! We don’t have any babies around here, but from what I understand, they’re tougher than they look. You did great, Wiley. Sometimes getting in the way underfoot and giving too many kisses is the best thing to do.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Dear Cupcake,
How doggie young are you? Because your wisdom never ceases to amaze me.
🙂 Wiles
one of those moments we all have…
This is true. 🙂
Don’t be so hard on yourself, you didn’t drop the ball. You just witnessed the first of many times he will fall. So long as you are there to pick him up it will be ok! Hugs
Aw, you’re so thoughtful to put it that way! I love thinking about always being there to help pick him up. 🙂
Do not be hard on yourself Wiley it happens and when we learn these lessons you know there will be more precautions next time. Mom was scared once with me, she was taught as my handler to never take your eyes off me when visiting elders. We always see these two ladies they are our favorite two ladies, they love me a lot and are thrilled each time we stop. Well this one time mom turned to talk to one, just a moment turned back to me and found the other lady feeding me something. I was taught not to take from strangers I was sniffing and did nibble. Mom told the lady please do not feed her she is on a special diet. Thank God it was only a cookie. She will never take her eyes off me again…
Oh my goodness, friend! That is a scary story – especially since there could have been chocolate in that cookie! Thank goodness there wasn’t. I love hearing stories of your good works with the elders though! Such an inspiration, both you and your mom! Keep up the good work!
Lots of love,
Wiles
Aww Wiley, neither you nor mummy dropped the ball. Babies are pretty resilient little tykes, I’m not saying that parkour off the ottoman should be a new hobby. But, little accidents like these happen now and again. Your mum was naturally going to panic, I think both you and her are tuned into that ‘pain cry’ by now. Which is a good thing since I would lay money on it not being the last time you hear it.
You did the very best you could have done, and it will all be OK!
Carrie (Myfie, Ellie and Millie) x
You gave both my mom and I quite the giggle with your mention of parkour off the ottoman. There’s a funny (albeit startling) mental image! Thank goodness we know that pain cry, because something tells me you’re right. This may have been a first, but it certainly won’t be the last time the little guy hurts himself. All the more reason we’re around, right?
All my best,
Wiles
Carter is fortunate to have you, Mom, and so many people looking out for him. My co-worker once said that he learned that babies are not as fragile as they look – not that you want to test that or anything. We already know how vigilant you, Mom, and Dad are. Carter will have ouch-ies, but he will also have his family to make him feel better with soothing words, hugs, kisses, and licks. Glad everything turned out ok!
I hate the idea of Carter having any ouchies but I suppose you’re right that they will happen. We will survive. 🙂
Dear Wyles and your darling Mom and wee Carter, here’s the thing: there had to be a first time, there always is a first time and that is when you discover, babies bounce – they may cry loud as Dickins, but for the most part, they bounce and recover – over and over and over again. We call it progress and progress can be easy or mighty tough and sometimes painful. It is how you come to appreciate joy from the ground up, n’est pas?
My mother often said that having four children taught her: you think the first, no, you KNOW the first will break. The second not so breakable. By the time I came along as the fourth, unbreakable. Bruiseable, but she knew I was tougher than I looked. It is how Nature designed us so we could live, thrive, grow and survive. Keep up those kisses all over Carter’s little face. P.S. – that look on the two of you – exactly the same expression!
Love HuntMode and Ella & Elby!
Reblogged this on Wiley's Wisdom and commented:
Rolling, rolling, rolling!